Having worked with Ian Calhoun and Vincent Vela on their award-winning 80 Thoreau, we were glad to help with their new venture in Boston’s Park Square: a restaurant and separate bar in a completely renovated three-story building. Two separate but related entities in one building = 2 logos, 2 signs, 2 business cards, etc.

We’ve designed countless logos, signs, and business cards, etc. but each project is unique—with its own criteria, issues, and problems to solve. This project was part style, part technology, part arithmetic, and part city approval. It all came together to express both the restaurant’s white-tablecloth elegance and the bar’s casual vibe.

]]>Our Newest ProjectFyfe DesignWed, 08 Feb 2017 14:45:00 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2017/2/8/our-newest-project54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:589ad445b3db2bcc7ad72d32A giant caffeine molecule fills the window, the menu boards are in place, and the 23 ft sign is lit outside. Months of design and coordination working on a logo, illustrations, signage, menu boards have come together for the opening of Catalyst Cafe later this week in Kendall Square. Special thanks to SRP Sign for working with our designs, providing quality fabrication and install. See you there for a coffee and lunch bowl.
]]>A New YearFyfe DesignWed, 11 Jan 2017 16:19:44 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2017/1/11/a-new-year54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:58765a01f7e0ab2f42dacf36We have welcomed and embraced 2017 with several new projects underway while reflecting on 2016. Here is a summary of what we created last year while working with a great mix of clients.

Reach out if you have a new project or idea. We are always happy to discuss upcoming work, offer advice, estimates and designs.

Stay in touch with clients, co-workers, and friendsduring the holidays and the new year.Whether it is a printed card, an e-news update, advertisement,invitation, a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine:we’ll design and communicatethe cheer and good wishes for you.

]]>Designing LogosFyfe DesignTue, 20 Sep 2016 11:30:00 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2016/9/19/designing-logos54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:57e0032e197aea80c3675c2bWe love the challenge of designing logos, synthesizing an idea, vision or concept and bringing it to life. Today's increasingly complex world of business communications makes creating an effective logo even more of a challenge. It is not just about designing a single mark, logo type or imprint anymore. Now a logo must meet many expectations, demands and applications. Think about it. The same logo must be equally clear and compelling on everything from Facebook, Instagram, or a website to a sign, a printed card or brochure, requiring multiple color and file formats.

To address these diverse needs, we focus on the process of discovery. We ask a lot of questions to get a deep understanding of the business—the story, mission, character, and goals—before we begin experimenting with permutations of the logo. We often explore multiple options before the logo ultimately reveals itself.

Three recent examples of logos

1. AvenueOur logo for a brand-new restaurant in Medfield, Massachusetts incorporates several distinct elements. These elements can be used in different ways and configurations, either together or separately. This approach allowed for flexibility and variety when designing Avenue's signage, menus, check presenter, matches and website. As we worked, we were reminded that designing for a restaurant is almost like designing for theatre: a restaurant is a show that goes on every night. A good logo helps set the pace and the tone of the performance.

Avenue Logo variations, menu cover + check presenter

Exterior Signage: hanging lit sign, sign band and vinyl on glass

Avenue Website Design

2. Good CollectiveThis new online shopping site, still under development, needed a look that stays fresh in the curated online retail market. Once we settled on the type solution, we created a bright and lively color palette that conveys the stylish, savvy personality of the business. The different colors also allow for change, either seasonally or to announce sales.

While researching fonts, we fell in love with many type styles. Rather than give them up, we used them as graphic images for site highlights.

3. EVkids After re-evaluating its organizational message and unifying its marketing strategy, this nonprofit realized it needed a new logo. The goal was a logo that was friendly, accessible, and emphasized kids while incorporating a new tagline to highlight their mission. The logo also needed to be simple enough for the staff to use and manage in-house. Having worked with many non-profits, we understood the challenges that EVkids faced and made the design process as easy as possible, and delivered appropriate logo files, Word templates and style guidelines.

More logos in the works. Stay tuned....

]]>Designing LogosSmall Businesses: A Sane and Simple Approach to Social MediaFyfe DesignMon, 22 Feb 2016 20:22:12 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/a-simple-approach-to-social-media-for-small-businesses54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:56c8b5d23c44d8347933466eWe get it. Updating social media can be overwhelming, especially when the basics of running a business are already time consuming. How do you prioritize creating blog posts and other website content? Or devote resources to maintaining a social media presence across multiple platforms? We get it because we struggle with the same issues.

Take heart. There are new, better resources for creating website content with seamless social media integration, enabling you to engage your online audience with minimal effort.

Bow Street Flowers, our favorite local florist, improved their social media presence overnight by integrating their website content into multiple social media platforms. Shelley, owner of Bow Street, initially contacted Fyfe Design to discuss updating the website. As we talked, we realized that it could be advantageous to review all of Shelley's online needs.

Our initial questions: How do you want to use your website and social media and who is your audience?How much time do you want to invest in updating your website and social media accounts?If you don’t have any time, would you consider hiring out the work?

We found that Shelley hadn’t been writing many blog entries or updating her website very frequently, but she was posting a lot of captioned photos on Instagram. Shelley liked the ease of working with Instagram, but none of her posts were showing up on her website or Facebook page.

We felt it was important to link Shelley’s Instagram updates with her website, Facebook and email list. That simple move amplified her impact without adding any extra work, allowing to showcase her current work with her local and online community.

How we made it happen: First, we built a new website using a Squarespace template. This was a cost-effective solution and a time-saving one since Squarespace provides tools for seamless integration with most social media platforms. Now Shelley's Instagram photos automatically display on the home page of her website.

Money raised goes to local charities working to end homelessness in Greater Boston. And because sponsors cover all the administrative costs, every penny of every dollar goes directly to helping families and individuals move from the shelters and streets into permanent housing.

A simple action, donating $1, warranted one simple design solution that needed to appeal to multiple audiences — the restaurant owners and managers, the restaurant servers and ultimately the clientele and customers making the donation. While satisfying the needs of each user the printed piece also needed to be cost effective, flexible, clear, distinctive, but not compete with the restaurant experience. These are standard design considerations for what appears to be a simple, easy solution.

39 restaurants in the greater Boston area are participating in Hearth Shares program this year and already thousands and thousands of dollars have been raised. We look forward to hearing of the continued success of this program over the holidays and ultimately the people it will help. Best wishes for a healthy new year.

]]>A Fresh New LookFyfe DesignTue, 01 Dec 2015 17:39:48 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2015/10/6/a-fresh-look54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:5613d0aee4b01c6ce2f9afb4OTA Wakefield contacted us and expressed their desire for an identity update. They provide occupational, physical, speech and feeding therapy to children. Their enthusiasm for what they do and the children they help is evident and inspiring. We set out to update their logo, stationery, website and waiting room area.

We provided them with a flexible color palette for both printed materials and their interior spaces, as well as multiple graphic images. We gave them a fresh look that still resembles their previous identity and ultimately offers a space that the children will enjoy and thrive in. We collaborated with Sign-A-Rama in Somerville on the fabrication and installation of the waiting room graphics.

]]>Picture PerfectFyfe DesignThu, 16 Jul 2015 16:33:15 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2015/6/24/websites-with-photography-and-illustrations54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:558ab933e4b0ed3260986000Getting to collaborate with talented photographers and illustrators is one of our favorite things. Compelling imagery inspires us! There is no better example than the website we recently completed for Savoir Faire Home, a home décor store and interior design consultancy in Andover, Massachusetts. We were fortunate enough to work with photos that beautifully showcase the relaxed sophistication of Savoir Faire's approach to home decoration. We put these photos front and center. They're also big, occupying much of the screen and framed by a streamlined design. We wanted these gorgeous shots to speak for themselves.

Artful Financial Planning

Michael Staub offers financial planning services for restaurants, making sense (and cents) of the risks and expenditures within a competitive industry. When contemplating the design of his new website, we looked for ways to give warmth and life to the discussion of business plans, capital structure, and negotiations. As luck would have it, Michael's son, Will, is a gifted artist. His watercolors of restaurant vignettes provide an elegant, witty, and welcoming window on the industry that Staub serves. We incorporated the artwork into the design structure, each scene introducing a different segment of the site.

]]>The Winter of WebsitesFyfe DesignFri, 24 Apr 2015 17:16:51 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2015/4/23/the-winter-of-websites54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:5538ed5ee4b09cd3aa0901b9While record snow fell around us, we were busy organizing, designing and launching websites. Some consisted of launching temporary sites and pages while the complete sites are being developed and finalized: Savoir Faire Home and Jackson | Schillaci. It is better to have a single page that is current and maintains a web presence rather than an outdated site that misrepresents your business.

temporary signage looks great and offers pedestrians a sneak peak of what is to come. Red Bird is scheduled to open June 2014.

]]>We've been busy bees with many great projects and clientsfyfe funnon-profitsrestaurantsshopsFyfe DesignWed, 12 Feb 2014 19:15:09 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2014/02/weve-been-busy-bees-with-many-great-projects-and-clients54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:54c672bae4b00274f2a8a7c4Last year, within six months, we designed wine labels, a course catalog, annual reports, numerous logos, and a limited edition book to name a few.

Applying logos we have designed, as signage, is great fun for us. From awnings and light-boxes to basic window vinyl, it makes a difference for the visibility of your shop. We were thrilled to get this photo from Fred boutique in Greenwich CT. We ordered the window vinyl and they did an amazing job with the installation. Well done to the Fred ladies for tackling that tricky task.

]]>The Pantone Chipfyfe funFyfe DesignFri, 01 Mar 2013 19:57:07 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2013/03/pantones-in-the-news54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:54c672b9e4b00274f2a8a7beWe enjoyed reading the article, Who Made That Pantone Chip, in the recent Sunday New York Times Magazine. As graphic designers, we obsess about color and reference the pantone system regularly. We did not know Who Made That Pantone Chip, did you?
]]>Press Check for Northeastern Universityfyfe funnon-profitsFyfe DesignFri, 01 Feb 2013 19:09:38 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2013/02/press-check-for-northeastern-university54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:54c672b9e4b00274f2a8a7bb

The 2013 magazines were printed at Flagship Printing Press on their 8 color Komori UV press. It was the first time the magazine printed with UV and we were excited about the quality it brought to the job.

Spring has sprung at The Food Project along with large graphics on the Dudley Greenhouse. The 6ft x 6ft panels illustrate The Food Project's commitment to youth, food and community as well as a glimpse of what goes on inside the urban greenhouse. We always enjoy designing with The Food Project and working with Seaport Graphics on the fabrication and installation.

]]>Double Bass and Breadfyfe funrestaurantsshopsFyfe DesignWed, 04 Jan 2012 16:32:48 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2012/01/double-bass-and-bread54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:54c672b9e4b00274f2a8a7b5
We are thrilled to see our friend and client Dan Greenspan featured in the Boston Globe. We enjoy working with clients on their new business ventures especially when we enjoy their product too. Dan's bread is delicious and hearty. It disappears quickly around our house whether eaten plain, with butter, or cheese. Yum.
]]>Congratulations to our Clientsfyfe funrestaurantsshopsFyfe DesignWed, 27 Jul 2011 18:04:28 +0000https://www.fyfe.com/blog/2011/07/congratulations-to-our-clients54b94e68e4b096702d3bf53e:54c672b6e4b00274f2a8a6f8:54c672b8e4b00274f2a8a7b0
BestofBoston

Continuing with our restaurant logo theme this spring, we are very excited about Nubar, the newly renovated bar + restaurant at the Sheraton Commander in Cambridge. The project has included a logo, menu designs and covers, business cards, exterior and interior signage, as well as an initial website and even a flag. Nubar is gearing up for their big opening this evening. The interior design is fabulous and the food looks delicious. Nubar is sure to be the new neighborhood hot spot. (photograph by: Warren Jagger)